The Dos and Don’ts of Teenage Grooming!

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Teenagers often agonise over their appearance, in particular flabby arms, which only shape up after what seems like years of torturous exercises. Your personal agony may be dull hair, spotty skin or that you’re still carrying around some extra puppy fat…

Whatever it is, don’t worry as the good news is time is on your side. Any action you take now will stop bad beauty habits and start good ones for life.

Take a look at my handy tips to make sure yours are good:

DON’T

Draw on heavily-pencilled brows, as they look harsh and are incredibly unflattering. instead, put them on lightly, filling in the brows only where they are thin or need lengthening at the outer corners. Use short fine strokes to define the brow in a colour one shade lighter than your hair.

DON’T

Fall into bed without taking off your mascara, no matter how tired you are. Leaving it on can weaken the lashes and over time they will break off, or worse, will leave you with no lashes at all.

DON’T

Live with dull hair. If it seems to never shine, rinse until it squeaks like a rusty old door, then you can be certain the shampoo is 100% out, which is often the biggest culprit to dull hair.

DO

Take some time to learn the art of scalp massage. Begin at the hairline and move towards the crown, making small circular motions all over the scalp with your fingertips. You should be putting on enough pressure to move the scalp itself.

medicated soapDO

Wash your face each morning and night with cleansing granules or a medicated peeling soap. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, then slap the skin with cotton wool soaked in astringent.

DO

An about-face with your beauty routine for summer and winter. Different seasons put different demands on your skin. Summer sun and humidity makes skin oilier and increases the need for deep-pore cleaning. A homemade sauna will steam grime from pores like water from a sponge. You will need a large mixing bowl, a quarter filled with boiling water, and a bath towel, large enough to cover both your head and the bowl. Put your head under the towel over the water and count to 20. Repeat several times, adding steaming water as hot as you can bear.

Conversely, winter makes skin dry and flaky and increases the need for moisturising. Swap your astringent with one that is milder. Stop dry skin patches with moisturiser in the morning and a nourishing cream at night.

DON’T

Draw a wide band with your eyeliner, as it makes eyes look heavy. Use a soft crayon in subtle greys or browns and aim for a fine line close to lashes to emphasise your eyes and make them look larger.

DO

A few simple exercises first thing in the morning. Try skipping for 10 minutes, touching your toes 20 times, or lie on the floor and rolling from side to side.

DO

Watch your posture throughout the day.

DON’T

Slouch. Sit with the small of your back pushed deep into the back of the chair. When standing pull your tummy in, tuck in your behind, and straighten your shoulders. A standing slouch has a ruinous effect, it gives the illusion of an extra three kilograms.

spotty skinDON’T

Try to change your skin tone with foundation. Never choose a colour more than one shade lighter or darker than your skin. The effect will always be artificial.

DON’T

Spoil your impact by neglecting a twice-a-week shaving routine for your legs. Stubble is a real turn-off. If shaving bores you silly, have a professional wax treatment. It will last up to eight weeks.

DON’T

Drown yourself in perfume. Wearing too much is an easy habit to form. Your nose gets used to the scent, so you keep putting on more and more and it becomes a vicious circle. Remember, scent should be a lingering wisp of cloud, not a deluge of rain.

DON’T

Fret over minor imperfections, such as a too-small nose. A streak of white highlighter blended down the centre from bridge to tip will emphasise it.

DO

Protect your eyes by buying a good pair of sunglasses. Wear them in both the summer as well as the winter to help protect against dangerous sun glare. Squinting into the sunlight will bring on aging lines around the eyes and on the forehead quicker than a wink.

DON’T

Sleep with your face in the pillow, you will wake up with puffy eyes.

DON’T

Chew your lips. This can develop into a ridge of tissue inside the mouth. Besides, it looks grotty! Make your friends nag every time you’re “caught in the act.”

DO

Be light-handed with moisturiser. Every skin needs moisture but enough is enough. After 15 minutes the skin has absorbed all it needs, so tissue off any excess to prevent pores clogging.


Natalia Moore is a trusted beauty expert, aesthetician, and blogger who has been sharing thousands of tips and tricks on home facial for teenage skin.

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